RANDOM REMARKS.

King Country Chronicle, Volume III, Issue 133, 22 February 1909, Page 5

RANDOM REMARKS.

(Contributions to this column arc always welcome from any part of the district. The Editor does not vouch for the authenticity of the stories, nor is he responsible for the criticisms.)

Little enthusiasm seems to have been aroused in respect to the suggestion of taking steps to establish public baths at Te Koiti, though the matter is one which might well be taken seriously by the public. Considering the amount of dost wbich must cling to Te Koitians during the present spelt of fine weather, the water necessary for cleansing operations most be more £sn can be afforded by a tank supply. A bathing enclosure on the river would be a real boon to all. and it is to be hoped the public spirit will inspire the residents sufficiently to evolve means to do the thing in proper style. Possibly this is one of the legacies which will be left to the Town Council which is to be set up in the near future.

Time, the remorseless, deals unsparingly with humanity, tfndtbc age limit set by the powers that be in New Zealand for the retirement of public* servants is responsible for the rending of old tics, and the dispelling of many fond associations. Captain Edwin, who for many year* has popularly been credited with carrying the weather in the hollow of his hand, and presumably dispensing it in accordance with the state of bis liver, is among the little list of those who have been marked for retirement in the near future. No more shall the gallant captain's prognostication v be looked for with anxiety, and we shall have to become accustomed to having oor weather arranged for us by a strange personality. Let us hope the new comer will have been nooiished on the milk of human kindness, and has been country bred. It is gratifying to remember that the old generation that is now giving way to the young in the public service is* not going out without some recognition of their services in the past.

The King Country is famous, j Coming to think of it the King Country has always been famous, and there is littte apparent excuse or reiterating the platitude. History is silent as to the measure of fame accorded to the district before the dawn of civilisation in the Pacific, but we can deduce that no inconsiderable amount of gloty at tached to it. Since the aforesaid dawn has merged into the fierce white light of general publicity, the fame has been growing and extending in various directions. At one time a conspicuous and abiding thirst amongst the inhabitants marked the distrk* for special attention. This brand of fame may be labelled notoriety by envious ones, but included in the same category may be mentioned the Native land legislation, |be roads muddle, and various other notorious items, In any case the bad old thirsty days are all gone now, and the district is peopled with tea drinkers, and supports a cordial faeory. Shades of departed slygrog heroes! What a striking commentary on the change wrought by civilisation. But the Native legislation is far from being gone and is likely to remain notorious. Still, King Country is marked for greater fame than is commonly accorded to any one locality. Already, song and story have contributed to the fame of the district. Gifted bard and romancer from Te Kuiti -the teller of plain stories is always the best übiquitous poet from Hangatiki. suffice to keep the flame burning in - literature. I forget what particular branch of fame 1 intended to enlarge upon when t started, but it was something quite interesting, and calculated i to show that we had left the ranks of 1 the ordinary, and were striding, head erect, and chest expanded, with the confident ones of the earth, However, that sort of thing can always be ac* cepted without explanation, or justification, and if I think of it in the meantime, it can be added to the next contribution in this column.